“It also improves the humanitarian response to gender-based violence, which increases during emergencies,” the UN Chief said.

At the wreath-laying ceremony, Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, said that those attacking the UN “want to make us afraid, feel weak or to retreat.

“Losing so many of our staff members and personnel all over the world is a terrible blow to our mission.

“But at the same time, I know that you will never lose faith in the role of the UN and that we will each in our own way remain determined to fulfil our reponsbility to work for peace, development and human rights.

“Today, as we honour those who inspired us to be bold and determined to go forward, let us reinvest our courage.”

She said that he UN was doing more to “address the needs of surviving staff, as well as families of the victims in their long journey of healing”.

President of the General Assembly, Ms María Espinosa, said that humanitarian workers “make a real difference in people’s lives through their commitment, sacrifice and tireless resolve to bring assistance and relief to people in crisis”.

She paid tribute to all women humanitarians “who do not spare efforts to put themselves, daily, on the front lines of dangerous and challenging situations to deliver assistance and to promote peace in the world”.